Portable invalid&#39;s chair.



APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

, B. E. HIGGINS. PORTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1904.

*4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mam

, PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

E. E. HIGGINS.

PORTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APBQZI, 1904.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905. v

B. E. HIGGINS.

PORTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Win/95555.

Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER E. HIGGINS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PORTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 787,760, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed April 21, 1904. Serial No. 204,155.

T 0 all whom it vntty concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. Hreems, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamlin, St. Paul, in the county of. Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Invalids Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its'object to provide an improved invalids chair; and to this end the same consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like notationsrefer to like parts throughout the several views.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective with the folding chair shown suspended in position for holding the patient in a reclining or substantially horizontal position. adjusted into a half-sitting and half-reclining position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but with the chair adjusted to hold the patient in a sitting position and also showing a tray or small table attachment applied to the suspending-cables. Fig. I is a detail of the joint between the seat and the foot sections of the chair, which may be conveniently called the knee-joint. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the joint between the seat and back sections of the chair and which may be conveniently termed the hip-joint. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the grapple which adjustably connects the back branch of the suspending-cables to the back-section of the chair. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the relations of the lock-pawl and lock-ratchet forming parts of the hoisting devices. Fig. 8 is a detail, chiefly in section, showing the lower members of the beveled gears forming a part of the hoisting devices in their relations to each other, the

looking pawl and ratchet, and the hand-lever for operating the same. Fig. 9 is a detail in Fig. 2 is a similar view with the chair a detail in plan view, showing the closure or cover for the chamber-registering opening in the seat-sectlon of the chair; and Fig. 11 is a detail in section on the line 92 m of Fig. 10

with the position of the chamber indicated in dotted lines.

The supporting-frame is of a form adapted tostraddle a bed from which and to which the patient is to be helped onto the chair. This frame, as shown, is made up ofgas-pipe seotions suitably jointed together, and of these sections the reference-letter (0 represents the caster-equipped pedestals, a the uprights or posts, a the top cross-bar connecting the posts a, and a the T-joints connecting sections of the uprights a near the top cross-bar (L The said T-joints (1, are perforated to pass the stems or shanks of headed bolts 6, which enter the ends of a hollow gas-pipe or shaft-section b and are riveted thereto, as best shown in Fig. 9. The said pipe-section b is mounted in the lower T of a bearing-post a secured to and depending from the top crossbar a The said headedbolts I), applied to the gas-pipe section b, as described and as shown in Fig. 9, serve as the trunnions of the shaft, and the said sh aft so composed serves also as a crossbrace to the frame, thus reinforcing the same and preventing the spreading of the uprights a in respect to each other. The said shaft, made up of the parts 7) and I), has fixed thereto a pair of drums 6 from which the chair is suspended by cables made up of the main member 0 and branch members, (marked, respectively, 0', 0 and 0 The shaft made up of the parts I) b carries at one end a bevel-gear 6 which engages with the beveled pinion 6* on the upper end of a vertical shaft If. The said shaft 6 is provided at its lower end with a similar bevel-pinion Z), which engages with a bevelgear 6 loosely mounted on a stub-shaft b and subject to a hand-lever Z). The stub-shaft b is supported by a bearing-bracket 6 fixed to the adjacent upright a of the main frame, and which bracket 12 also affords astep-bearing Z1 for the lower end of the vertical shaft 12 as best shown in Fig. 8, and the upper end portion of said shaft turns in a bearing I)", projecting from the adjacent upright or post a. On the shaft 5 near the foot of the same,

is fixed a ratchet-wheel I), which cooperates with a locking-pawl b, pivoted to the bracket 1) for holding the shaft 6 and all the parts of the Windlass in whatever position the same may be set under the action of the hand-lever Z).

The folding chair, as shown, is composed of three sections, and each section in turn is com posed of gas-pipe or rod-like main frame (Z, supporting a wire-cloth web or mattress-body (Z. The several sections are pivotally connected together for a limited pivotal motion only. The joint between the seat and the foot sections is of such construction as to permit the foot-section to be turned downward below the seat-section, but only to rise to a level therewith. For this purpose the heads of the jointed rods of the frame are shouldered, as shown in Fig. 4 at (Z and (Z the upper shoulders (Z abutting and operating as stops when the two adjacent frame-sections reach the horizontal position and the lower pair of shoulders (Z being separated when the said parts are in the horizontal position'(shown in full lines in Fig. 4) and abutting to operate as stops at the limit of the downward pivotal motion of the foot-frame section. The hipjoint shown in Fig. 5, is of a similar con: struction, but with its shoulders cl and 6Z5 in reverse relation to each other as compared with Fig. i. Otherwise stated, the lower shoulders (Z of the hip-joint abut when the back-section is in its horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 5, and its upper stop-shoulders cl are then separated, but will meet and serve as stops to limit the upward pivotal motion of the back-section, as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This construction of the joints connecting the three sections of the chairframe permit the said sections to take all the required angular adjustments in respect to each other, while preventing the same from collapsing onto each other.

The branch cables 0', 0 and 0 connect with their respective main cable 0 by rings 0', and all the said branches are snap-equipped at their lower ends. The central branch cables 0 engage with staples 0", shown as pivotally attached to the pintles of the hip-joints, but which may be otherwise anchored to the scatsection at or near the hip-joints. The forward branches 0 take hold of eyebolts c, fixed to the forward corners of the foot-section of the chair, and the rear branches 0 take hold of the outer end of cam-levers e, eccentrically pivoted to clips 0, embracing and adjustable lengthwise of the side rods of the backsection of the chair-frame. The cam-lever a and the clip e thus cooperate to afford a grapple adapted to permit any desired anchorage for the rear branch cables 0 lengthwise of the back-section of the chair-frame. The forward branch cables 0 are made up of sections connected by several rings 0 and to thekneejoint pintles are pivoted what may be called knee-ties, composed of snap-hooks ciadapted to engage with any of the rings 0 of the forward cable 0 for holding the foot-section in any desired adjustment in respect to the seat-section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

On the chair-frame is mounted a suitable cushion f, adapted to conform to the angular adjustments of the chair-frame. The wire web of the seat-section of the chair-frame is cut away and fitted with an annular bracket 72, of the proper construction to afford on its under surface a chamber-holder 7b in position to register with the opening in the web, as best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in the latter of which the chamber If is shown in dotted lines. A closure or cover if is pivoted to the annular bracket 70, as shown in Fig. 11, and provided with a turn-button It for holding the same in its closed position. The chamberholding flange 7a, of the bracket h is of such shape as to cooperate with the outturned mouth-flange of the chamber 7& to hold the latter in serving position and is cut away at one or both sides to permit said chamber to be applied and removed at will. The cushion f" is provided with a corresponding chamberf registering holef in its seat-section.

Having regard now to the relation ofthe chair proper to its portable supporting-frame, it must be obvious from the foregoing description that the chair is detachably supported by the said frame, that the chair can be raised or lowered to any desired height by the manipulation of the Windlass from which the same is suspended, and that the sections of thechair may be set in any desired angular adjustment within the provided range in respect to each other. For effecting these angular adjustments of the chair sections the central 'branches 0 of the suspending-cables never shift their points of attachment to the chairframe. The forward cables 0 remain connected to the forward end portion of the foot section; but when the foot-section is moved downward the knee-ties c are hooked to one of the rings 0 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus serving to hold the said foot-section of the chair in its angular adjustment. The adjustment of the back-section of the chair in respect to the seat-section is effected and secured by sliding the grapple, made up of the parts 0 and e, lengthwise of the chair-back section. In making these pivotal adjustments the seat-sectionis held by one hand, while the back or foot section receives its pivotal adjustment by the manipulation thereof with the other hand.

The several views, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, show the chair in three of its possible angular adjustments.

The suspension is such that no difference what the angular adjustment of the chair-sections may be within the range provided the chair will always support the invalid without any tendency of the pivoted sections to collapse or buckle one on the other to the discomfort of the patient.

From the connections described it is also evident that the chair is detachably suspended, and hence it follows from this fact, and the further fact that the supporting-frame is portable and of a spread adapting the same to straddle a standard bed, that the patient may be readily picked up from'the bed or replaced therein with the use of this invention. For this pur: pose the chair is usually detached and laid lengthwise of the patient on the bed. The patient is then rolled onto the chair, the portable frame brought into proper position astride of the bed, and the suspending-cables attached to the chair. Then by the manipulation of the Windlass the chair and patient are raised to such a height that the chair will clear the footboard, whereupon the frame may be pushed rearward until it clears the bed and thence taken to any desired point in the room. Then the chair can be adjusted to suit the requirements or the comfort of the patient. These characteristic features of this invention especially adapt the same for the handling of paralyzed or other entirely helpless patients.

As an additional convenient attachment 1 provide asmall table or tray 9, which may be supported from. the suspendingcables in position to be used either as a serving table or tray or as a readingtable to support a book. As shown, the tray g is provided with hook-ended arms adapted to engage in the cable-rings c, and with fork-ended braces g adapted to engage with the branch cables 0 or 0 according as it is desired to use the tray for serving either purpose. The tray is shown in its lowermost adjustment in Fig. 3, this being the position takenby the tray when in use as a serving-table. L

It will be understood that the details of the construction may be changed without departing. from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with the supportingframe and the three-section folding chair, of

suspending-cables, having back, seat and foot branches, with the seat branch anchored to the central section of the chair at or near the hip-joint, the back branch securable to the back-section of the chair in any desired adjustment lengthwise thereof, and the foot branch anchored to the forward end of the foot-section, and adapted also to be anchored to the chair at or near the knee-joint thereof, all for cooperation, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the supportingframe and the three-section folding chair, of the suspendingcables composed of the main and the branch sections, the central member of which branches is anchored to the seat-section of the chair,.at or near the hip-joint thereof, the forward branch anchored to the foot-section of the chair, and the rear branch connected to the back-section of the chair by an adjustable grapple, including a cam-lever reacting against the frame of the chair-section to effect the anchorage at any desired point thereof for the proper angular adjustment of the chair, substantially as described.v

8. The combination with the supportingframe and the sectional folding chair, of the suspending-cables supporting said chair, and a tray having hook ended arms, engageable with certain portions of the cables, and forkended braces engageable with other portions of said cables, for supporting the tray in proper working position, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the supportingframe, the sectional folding chair, the main and branch suspending-cables, connected by rings, of the tray, having hook-ended arms engageable with the cable-rings, and forkended braces engageable, at will, either with the central branch cable or the forward branch cable, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in 

